Home Remedy Ideas for Nicotine Dependency - Quit Smoking

Ideas you can try at home to help nicotine dependency

I don't need to go into all the benefits of quitting smoking, or ending nicotine dependency to share some tips that can be helpful. Quitting is never easy, and they say the worst part is right at the beginning. The first week or two and getting through that time is the toughest, but the good news is there are some things that can make that tough road a little easier.

Drink Orange Juice

Get lots of orange juice to have on hand. Get at least some and have it on hand, ready to go. Or, you can wait to get some when you would normally be going to the store to pick up more cigarettes. Some swear by going cold turkey, and to get through this tough time, the orange juice is said to help. You make your urine more acidic when drinking orange juice. Supposedly, the nicotine gets cleared out of your body faster when your urine is more acidic. This was stated by a nicotine dependency researcher and professor of oral health sciences at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

If you happen to be using the nicotine patch or gum, do NOT drink orange juice, because in that case you want to keep the nicotine in your body.

Try baking soda cocktails

Drinking baking soda cocktails can help. You can get some short term relief from the withdrawal symptoms by dissolving two tablespoons of baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, in a glass of water. It is recommended to drink this at every meal, unless you have peptic ulcers or have a low sodium diet you need to stick to. Why not have this on hand to use to get some relief when you are having a tough day? It might really help you.

Try getting even a little more exercise

Taking a walk can help, even a mile away from the nicotine. It is a great distraction if you are trying hard to quit. When you are exercising, you aren't as aware of your internal state. Some don't seem to be aware at all. Think about it, on a bike ride, or tennis game, you can't be thinking about smoking or grabbing a cigarette right then. The healthier you feel from the exercise you get, can be a psychological turn off to smoking. In fact, some doctors recommend taking that walk right when the cravings hit hardest. Could you do this and benefit your body at the same time for one or two weeks? The payouts would be so worth it!

Reward or Pay Yourself

Consider this study that was conducted that cost 1.3 million dollars, that showed people who were paid one dollar a day were more successful at staying off of nicotine than others who weren't paid. Its about rewarding yourself somehow, and doing so quickly. You have to actually be rewarding yourself with something, or it won't have the same effect. Doctors that share this idea stated that any reward will do, but money was just one they tried and it worked for many people. It is just one option. You are making a sacrifice in quitting. The idea here is a true reward that you feel and experience. It can help to compensate for the sacrifice you are making.

Go to the library or other places that don't allow smoking.

Purposely putting yourself in situations where you can't smoke if you wanted to, can help. In libraries, it is not permitted for you to smoke, so that is your out. You don't need to be "strong" in the library, for instance. Go to church, or visit other places you cannot smoke. You need to keep reminding yourself this is short term feelings that you are experiencing. This craving for nicotine that seems impossible to overcome, WILL pass if you let it. It will help you to be in places that you cannot indulge the craving.

Monitor your normal caffeine or alcohol intake

When you quit smoking, you only need about a third as much coffee or caffeine as you normally needed to get the same rush. You would be overdoing it in your body if you had the same amount of caffeine you normally had in a day. The same is true for alcohol. You will get drunk faster than you normally would without the nicotene you normally had in your system.

Someone who smokes, processes the caffeine in their body two and a half times faster than someone that does not. So cut back in both, save the money and your health, and have the same feeling as you got from those substances before. Good deal!

Write a letter to someone you care about

This may sound tough, but it can help when the going gets hard on your road to being nicotene free. You don't have to send this note, just write it, as its true and honest in regards to what is going on. Pick up a pen or pencil instead of a cigarette, and write out a letter about why your smoking is more important to you than they are. Explain how the years of life nicotine will steal from you, matters more to you than they do. They want you in their life, but you need to let them know that their desire for nicotine trumps all. Its not a lie, and can help you get your head around the seriousness of you being the culprit in taking yourself out of others lives. It's a realistic letter, as it will be what will end up happening if you don't stop smoking. You probably won't finish the letter, but start one. Its the reality here, that can help break the cycle when nothing else seems to help. All of a sudden, your mind is back in charge, stronger than the cravings for the cigarettes. It gives perspective.

Perhaps bookmark or print out this page to have handy as a visual. Keep the ideas in your mind at least, so that you have something to fall back on when you just can't seem to get past the craving for a cigarette. You will be so glad you did. Don't give up. Try one of these ideas every day until your desires diminish. It is a start, and something you can do to help.

Comments

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Paula 6 years agofrom The Midwest, USA

Hello Luckyfind, I hear you, and my heart goes out to those that want to stop but seem to not be able too. It has to be one the meanest addictions, nicotine. I think its great you won't ever give up, I wouldn't either. In time, perhaps, and I think it has to be something they completely "own", to quit. Its good to know others have done it successfully and are now happy they did quit. Wishing you both the best. Thank you for your comment.

luckyfind 6 years ago

My husband is a smoker, I hate it, I will try anything to get him to consider stopping. He thinks he just can't do it. I will never give up, Thank you for the information and hope.

Author

Paula 6 years agofrom The Midwest, USA

Hello GoGreen, I am of the same mind as you. Think of the huge win, monetarily speaking! That cannot be denied for sure. Thanks for your comment and visit.

Greg Johnson 6 years agofrom Indianapolis

Interesting Hub. I never had heard about orange juice before, and I with the price of cigarettes just quitting would be a big financial reward.

Author

Paula 6 years agofrom The Midwest, USA

Hello Alissa, thank you so much for the visit, votes and comment. I really appreciate it.

Alissa Roberts 6 years agofrom Normandy, TN

I have never heard about drinking orange juice either. I will have to pass that one along to a family member who is trying to quit. Great hub highlighting some very useful tips - voted up!

Author

Paula 6 years agofrom The Midwest, USA

Hi Joe, thank you. I think the orange juice idea is a great one, because it tastes good and is so healthy all on its own. Thanks for your comment.

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